Hitmen to play three games in four nights
October 20, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen are back in the Pengrowth Saddledome Wednesday night to open a two game home stand against the Red Deer Rebels. Calgary has won three in a row and eight of their last nine. The Hitmen are coming off Sunday's 7-2 win in Edmonton. Michael Stone led the scoring attack (2g 1a) while Brett Sonne, Brandon Kozun, Paul Postma, Kyle Bortis and Brendan Rowinski added singles. Tyler Fiddler chipped in two assists as 11 different Hitmen had at least a single point including goaltender Martin Jones. Calgary outshot the Oil Kings 38-29 while building period leads of 2-0 and 6-1. The Hitmen finished 1-5 on the powerplay while Edmonton was 1-6.
VS RED DEER: Wednesday is the second of six meetings with the Rebels. Calgary leads the season series 1-0.
-Sept. 19th in Calgary; Hitmen 5 Rebels 3. Brett Sonne 1g 2a and six shots on goal.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on goal: Calgary 32 Red Deer 25. Powerplays: Calgary 4-7 57.1% Red Deer 1-4 25.0% The Hitmen and Rebels meet again on Saturday, December 27th in Red Deer.
STREAKIN': Brett Sonne (3g 1a) and Tyler Fiddler (1g 4a) are both on three game point streaks. Brandon Kozun (2g 3a), Kyle Bortis (1g 2a) and Paul Postma (1g 3a) all have points in back-to-back games. Michael Stone (2g 6a) has points in five of his last six games
2008-09 HITMEN STANDINGS: Record (10-3-0-0). Home (8-1-0-0). Road (2-2-0-0). Central Division (1st). Conference (1st). Western Hockey League (1st).
HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:
Goals (10) Brandon Kozun Points (19) Brett Sonne Plus/Minus (+9) Brett Sonne
Assists (12) Brett Sonne PIM (42) Alex Plante Wins (5) Martin Jones
DID YOU KNOW? Calgary's last 22 goals have been scored by 13 different players....The Hitmen have not allowed a first period goal in the last nine games....Martin Jones has started five straight games in the Hitmen goal....Calgary has only allowed more than three goals in a single game once this season.
STRONG OFFENSE, STINGY DEFENCE: The Hitmen lead the Eastern Conference in goals scored with 52 for an average of four per game. Meanwhile Calgary has allowed the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference at 25. That's an average of 1.9 per game.
ROSTER MOVES: On October 16th, the Hitmen released goaltender Dan Spence to meet the WHL Overage Deadline of three 20-year-olds. The Hitmen now have a league maximum three overager's on their roster; Kyle Bortis, Carson McMillan and Keith Seabrook. On October 12th, the Hitmen traded 20-year-old forward Ian Duval to the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for the rights to 18-year-old forward Derek Grant and a conditional third round bantam pick in 2010.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have seven NHL picks ...Carson McMillan-(7th round Minnesota 2007), Alex Plante (1st round Edmonton 2007), Paul Postma-(7th round Atlanta 2007), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Keith Seabrook-(2nd round Washington 2006), Brett Sonne-(3rd round St. Louis 2007) and Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008).
THE ROSTER: Calgary is carrying 24 players; (14 forwards, 8 defencemen and 2 goalies)
-Break down....3 (20 year-olds), 6 (19 year-olds), 8 (18 year-olds), 4 (17 year-olds), and 3 (16 year-olds). There are 15 returning players from the 2007-08 season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Hitmen powerplay has scored at least one goal in eight straight games. Meanwhile the penalty kill has only allowed a goal in three of 13 games this season.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen are back on Saddledome ice Friday night to host the Moose Jaw Warriors. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The Hitmen then open a three game road trip Saturday in Medicine Hat before heading to Saskatchewan with stops in Prince Albert and Saskatoon next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2008
- Capitals Sign Goaltender Braden Holtby - Saskatoon Blades
- 'Canes return Boychuk to junior team - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Hitmen to play three games in four nights - Calgary Hitmen
- Chilliwack vs Kelowna Wednesday Night - Chilliwack Bruins
- Pats this week - Regina Pats
- Raiders return home for three games this week - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hurricanes weekly - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Fehr Named Player Of The Week - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Wheat Kings' Jay Fehr named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Blazers Go 0-2 On US Trip - Kamloops Blazers
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